Waterproof photoequipment bag

ABSTRACT

A photoequipment bag (1) consists of a universally open container part (3) having a dividable inner space and a closing part (5) unilaterally hinged to the container part (3). The walls of the container part (3) and of the closing part (5) are provided each with a waterproof plastic layer. The plastic layer of the container part (5)is watertightly connected to a first frame portion (2) confining the container aperture, while the plastic layer of the closing part (5) is watertightly connected to the second frame portion (4) locking the closing part (5). The locking means (24) engage the frame portions (2,4) and the latter, in locked condition, are in engagement via a combined labyrinth and contact seal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a photoequipment bag comprising a containerpart open unilaterally and having a dividable inner space and a closingpart hinged unilaterally to the container part and closing the innerspace, the walls of the container part and of the closing part includingan external flexible material layer and the container part and theclosing part being provided with cooperating locking means.

Such photographic bags are required for receiving a camera and itsaccessory such as interchangeable objectives, filters, flashgun, films,motor winder or video cameras and their accessory so that the individualelements may not meet and that also a certain protection from weatherinfluences is ensured. The inner space of such bags is dividable to formcompartments of different dimensions.

There have been known photocases comprising metallic walls which, as arule, are provided for a more extensive equipment, said cases being alsoadapted to withstand higher loads, in particular shocks, and they may bewater-resistant. However, their relatively high weight isdisadvantageous.

On the other hand, light photobags made of fabric, leather or syntheticleather disadvantageously only offer a certain protection againstclimatic influences, and, if they are soft or semisolid, they are notwater-resistant, so that expensive photographic equipments, e.g. forwater sports, may be lost for lack of water-resistance and for lack offloatability accordingly. At least, they may be damaged by penetratingwater. The known photobag (U.S. Pat. No. 610 286) is neitherwater-resistant nor does it consist of water-impervious plasticmaterial. It is merely provided with an inner tissue being resistantagainst humidity but not being water-resistant. The walls are composedof foamed plastic elements which also not close the photobag in awater-resistant manner. Further, the outer textile layer is onlywater-repellent.

From U.S. Pat. No. 803,368, there is known a thermally insulatingcontainer, particularly for the transport of blood plasma, having amulti-layered wall. The outer layer consists of a trough-shaped plastichousing while two internal layers consist of insulating material, e.g.of glass-fiber structures. The inner layer is resistant to humidity.

Thus, said known container consists of two one-pieced shells beingconnected to each other by separate frame portions. On the one hand, theframe portions are sealed against each other, but, one the other hand,they must be sealed against the outer shells too. Such a container shallonly provides good thermal insulation but does not offer absolute safetyagainst penetration of water as required for expensive electronic andphotomechanical equipment.

In tropic or subtropic climatic zones with a high air humidity,photographic equipments, in particular their electronic systems, may beaffected, if accommodated in conventional photobags.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the invention to provide a photoequipment bag whoseinner space is closed such as to be waterproof.

The problem is solved according to the invention in that, in aphotoequipment bag made of a unilaterally open container part includinga dividable inner space, and a closing part unilaterally hinged to thecontainer part and locking the inner space, the walls of the containerpart and of the closing part having an external flexible material layerand the container part and the closing part being provided withcooperating locking means,

the walls of the container part and of the closing part each have aplastic layer forming a one-pieced and seamless water-impermeablethrough,

the plastic layer of the container part forms a first frame portiondefining the container opening, and the plastic layer of the closingportion, by overturning the borders, forms a second frame portionterminating the closing portion,

the locking means engage the frame portions, and

the frame portions are in engagement in locking condition via a combinedlabyrinth- and contact seal.

The plastic layer forms a one-pieced and seamless water-impermeabletrough having a frame portion defining the container opening, which iseffected in that the edge area of the plastic layer is overturnedoutwardly. In this manner, in connection with a seal ing cooperatingwith the frame portions, the interior of the photobag can behermetically sealed. The plastic layer, forming a respective trough,does not need any further elements so that there is also no danger ofleakage at the joining areas between the plastic layer and intermediateelements. Then, insulating layers and outer tissue layers can beadvantageously arranged between the plastic layer and the frame portion,i.e. the overturned border of the plastic layer, while accessability andfunctional reliability of the locking members engaging the frameportions are not impaired.

All of the photoequipment bag walls contain a waterproof plastic layerjoined watertightly to the respective frame portion at the seam pointbetween container part and closing part. As for the two frame portions,they may be watertightly pressed against each other by a labyrinth andcontact seal with the aid of locking means, thus forming an inner spacehermetically closed universally and maintaining floatability also of afilled photoequipment bag in cases of need. It is a further advantage ofthe hermetic sealing that the delicate photographic equipment may besafely housed in zones having a high air humidity, it being stillpossible to add to the inner space a drying means. It is possible toproduce such bags with an extremely light weight and, nevertheless, theyoffer an optimal protection for high quality optical and electronicinstruments.

Preferably, the labyrinth seal consists of a first profile within therange of the first frame portion, and of a second profile complementaryto the first, within the range of the second frame portion, while in oneof the frame portions, the contact seal is inserted as a flexible inlayin a recess of the labyrinth seal. . . . problems may not arise at thetransition points between plastic layer and frame portion.

According to another preferred embodiment, an intermediate layer of foamis provided between the external fabric layer and the plastic layer, thefoam layer imparting to the photo-bag some dimensional stability andbacking-up the plastic layer without a substantial increase in weight ofthe photoequipment bag. At the same time, the foam layer is responsiblefor an excellent insulation of the inner space against coldness or heat.

Preferably, the intermediate layer consists of a hard foam. With the useof hard foam to this effect, a high resistance to shock and to torsionof the photoequipment bag may be achieved.

The frame portion of the closing part may be reinforced by acircumjacent metal profile which ensures a high dimensional stability ofthe profile at the frame portion of the closing part so that, forinstance, in combination with an intermediate hard foam layer, aloadability of the photoequipment bag by a weight of about 100 kg ispossible without having to accept too high a weight. Therefore, in caseof need, such a photoequipment bag may be also used as a platform for amore favorable position to take photos.

Due to a further configuration of the invention, the locking meansconsist of at least one lever traction lock which is particularly wellsuited to press together the two frame portions by a certain pretension.

The inner container wall formed of the plastic layer contains, in apreferred embodiment of the invention, parallel inwardly projecting ribsextending towards the closing part, said ribs contributing to anincrease in stability if the photoequipment bag is loaded in theirdirection. Further, they may serve for dividing the inner space.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will be explained hereunder in more detailwith reference to the drawings in which

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment,

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the first embodiment,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment,

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the second embodiment,

FIG. 5 is a detail cross section of the second embodiment according toFIG. 2, and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the second embodiment with open closingpart.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A first embodiment of the photoequipment bag 1 being substantiallysquare-shaped is provided with a shoulder strap 6 fixed at therespective transverse sides of the bag 1 having a fabric coating 8preferably made of a nylon tissue. The front side and the transversesides may be fitted, in the usual manner, with additional pockets 10,12, 14 which may be closed, for instance by velcro or zip fasteners 16.The shoulder strap 6 is connected to the photoequipment bag 1 byspring-loaded snap fasteners 18 thus allowing to bilaterally set freefrom the bag the shoulder strap 6 whose length may be changed and whichis provided with a shoulder pad 20 for avoiding slipping of the strap 6from the shoulder, on the one hand, and for improving the weightdistribution on the shoulder, on the other hand.

Further, the photoequipment bag 1 comprises a substantially tub-shapedcontainer portion 3 and a closing part 5 in the form of a locking flapor locking lid which each are enclosed by a frame portion 2,4 which,upon closing the photoequipment bag 1, are urged against each other. Tothis end, as evident from the embodiment of FIG. 1, frame portions 2,4contain at the bottom of the photoequipment bag 1 a hinge 22 (see FIG.2) which, at the opposite side, in order words, on top of thephotoequipment bag, cooperates with two lever traction locks 24 in orderto firmly press together the two frame portions 2,4 over their totalperipheral surfaces.

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment in which the provided closing part 5 isa lid normally taking a horizontal position during transport while theposition of the closing part 5 according to the embodiment of FIG. 1 isvertical during transport. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the upper end ofthe rear side of the closing part 5 is joined to the container part 3via a hinge 22. At the front side, there are provided two lockable levertraction locks 24 due to which the second frame portion 4 of the closingpart 5 may be urged by pretension against the first frame portion 2 ofthe container part 3.

The lever traction locks 24 and the hinge 22 are fixed to the frameportions 2,4. If hinges are used, one sole lever traction lock will do.

In place of hinges 22 shown in the two embodiments, it is also possibleto provide two spaced, non-illustrated hooking points which allow for acomplete removal of the closing part 5 from the container part 3, whenthe lever traction locks are open. Said hooking points are preferablyprovided at the points of the frame portions 2,4 confronted with thespaced lever traction locks 24.

As obvious from FIG. 2, if the hinge 22 is mounted at the bottom, anaddition protective layer 26 is to be provided over the hinge 22 tocompletely or at least nearly completely coat it over its length inorder to exclude penetration of dirt into said hinge 22, if thephotoequipment bag 1 is put down. The material of the protective layer26 may the same as that of the fabric coating 8.

FIG. 5 shows a cross section of an embodiment of FIG. 3. The containerpart 3 and the closing part 5 are provided with a plastic layer 7forming the internal layer of the wall composed of three layers intotal. Said plastic layer 7 made of a relatively thin-walledthermoplastic material forms a dimensionally stable deep inner tub forthe container part 3 or a flat tub-shaped inner surface for the closingpart 5. Said tubs being formed for the respective container part 3 andthe closing part 5 and being made of one piece are seamless. At the sametime, said tubs form the frame portions 2 or 4 by overturning theborders of the plastic layer 7.

On the tub-shaped interior surface formed by the plastic layer 7 of theclosing part 5, additional pockets for small accessories may beprovided.

Between the fabric coating 8 and the plastic layer 7, there may bearranged additionally a foam layer 9 preferably consisting of a hardfoam material.

The cross sections of the frame portions 2,4 are mutually adapted as totheir profiles so that, in closed condition, a narrow meander-shaped gap28 is left between the container part 3 and the closing part 5, saidgap, in the form of a labyrinth seal, forming a splash water protection.

The first frame portion 2 is so designed that at the free circumjacentborder of the container part 3, the plastic layer 7 overengages thecentral foam layer 9 and the external fabric coating 8. At the sametime, a rib projecting at the first frame portion 2 of the containerpart 3 towards the closing part 5 engages a complementary profile of thesecond frame portion 4, viz. a groove 32. The rib 30 and said groove 32extend at the confronted end faces of the respective frame portions 2,4,and said groove 32 receives a rubber seal 34 which, in addition to thelabyrinth seal formed by gap 28, forms a contact seal to permit ahermetic locking of the inner space 36. Preferably, the rubber seal 34consists of a chloroprene foam strip continuously inserted into saidgroove 32.

Not only in the frame portion 2 but also in frame portion 4, the foamlayer 9 may follow the profiled contour of the plastic layer 7 tocontribute to a stiffening of the frame portions 2,4. Further, thesecond frame portion 4 of the closing part 5 may be reinforced by analuminum profile 38 in order to ensure a dimensional stability of thelid-type closing part 5. The aluminum profile 38 consists of a stripprofile which, seen in cross section, is provided with an inwardlyprojecting nose 46, such an aluminum profile being light and ensuring ahigh resistance to deformation, it being possible for profile 46 to findits support in the foam layer 9.

After all, the cross section of the plastic layer 7 of closing part 5 isof a U-shaped profile within the range of the second frame portion 4 atboth sides of groove 32 so that two circumjacent ribs 40,42 are formedwhich receive between them in the groove 32 of a substantiallyrectangular cross section the rib 30 of the container part 2. In theouter rib 42 of the closing part 5, the aluminum profile 38 is insertedwhose lower straight section is enclosed by the fabric coating 8. Theplastic layer 7. The fabric coating 8 and the aluminum profile 38 may bemutually bonded or connect for inst. by rivets.

The lever traction locks 24 and the hinge 22 resp. may be suitably fixedto the outsides of the frame portions 2 and 4, e.g. by rivet joints.

The plastic layer 7 as a thermoplastic element may be provided withinwardly projecting mutually parallel longitudinal ribs 44 which extendat right angles to the aperture of the container part 3, saidlongitudinal ribs 44 contributing to the stability of the plastic layer7 and additionally allowing to divide the inner space 36 intocompartments of different sizes.

A photoequipment bag of such a configuration is light and, nevertheless,waterproof. With a three-layered wall design, it may be highlytorsion-resistant and, with a reinforcement of the closing part 5 by analuminum profile 38, it may withstand a load of up to 100 kg on theclosing part 5. By this means, the photoequipment bag may be also usedas a pedestal, if required.

What is claimed is:
 1. A photoequipment bag comprising a unilaterallyopen container part defining a dividable inner space, a closing part,hinge means for hinging said closing part to said container part foreffecting opening and closing of said inner space, locking means forlocking said container part and said closing part when said inner spaceis closed, said container part and closing part being each defined by aplastic material layer defining bounding opposing peripheral edge frameportions of said container part and said closing part, said frameportions being in contiguous relationship when said inner space isclosed, said locking means being carried by said frame portions, meansdefined by the plastic material layer of said frame portions for forminga tongue and groove seal, and a metal profile reinforcing said closingpart frame portion.
 2. The photo equipment bag as defined in claim 1wherein said tongue and groove seal is defined by a tongue of one ofsaid frame portions substantially seated within a complementary grooveof the other of said fame portions.
 3. The photo equipment bag asdefined in claim 1 wherein said tongue and groove seal is defined by atongue of one of said frame portions substantially seated within acomplementary groove of the other of said fame portions, and a gapbetween said tongue and groove.
 4. The photo equipment bag as defined inclaim 1 wherein said tongue and groove seal is defined by a tongue ofone of said frame portions substantially seated within a complementarygroove of the other of said fame portions, and a gap between said tongueand groove housing a sealing member.
 5. The photoequipment bag asdefined in claim 1 wherein said plastic material layer is thermoplasticmaterial thermo-formed to form the tongue and groove seal of said frameportions.
 6. The photoequipment bag as defined in claim 1 including anintermediate foam layer inboard of each of said plastic material layers,and an outer fabric layer of each of said container part and saidclosing part.
 7. The photoequipment bag as defined in claim 1 includingan intermediate hard foam layer inboard of each of said plastic materiallayers, and an outer fabric layer of each of said container part andsaid closing part.
 8. The photoequipment bag as defined in claim 1wherein said locking means includes at least one lever traction lock. 9.The photoequipment bag as defined in claim 1 wherein said container parthas a mouth defined by said container part frame portion, and saidplastic material layer includes a plurality of parallel ribs within saidinner space extending toward said mouth.
 10. A container comprising acontainer body and a closure, each of said container body and closurebeing defined by an outer fabric material layer, an intermediate layerand an inner thermo-formed plastic layer, said container body andclosure have peripheral frame portions in contiguous relationship in aclosed position of said closure relative to said container body, saidperipheral frame portions each being defined in part by portions of saidinner thermo-formed plastic layer disposed in generally spanningrelationship each to a respective one of said intermediate layers, andsaid inner thermo-formed plastic layer portions defining cooperativetongue and groove means for interlocking said closure and container bodyin the closed position of said closure relative to said container body.11. The container as defined in claim 10 wherein said tongue and groovemeans are defined by a tongue of said container body and a groove ofsaid closure.
 12. The container as defined in claim 11 including ametallic strip reinforcing said closure groove.
 13. The container asdefined in claim 12 wherein said inner thermo-formed plastic layerportions terminate in respective terminal portions one in exterioroverlapping relationship to a respective one of each of said outerfabric material layers.
 14. The container as defined in claim 12 whereinsaid metallic strip is disposed between said outer fabric material layerand said intermediate layer.
 15. The container as defined in claim 14wherein said inner thermo-formed plastic layer portions terminate inrespective terminal portions one in exterior overlapping relationship toa respective one of each of said outer fabric material layers.
 16. Thecontainer as defined in claim 10 wherein said inner thermo-formedplastic layer portions terminate in respective terminal portions one inexterior overlapping relationship to a respective one of each of saidouter fabric material layers.